USA > Iowa > Henry County > Portrait and biographical album of Henry County, Iowa, containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county > Part 57
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W ILLIAM ANDERSON HUTCHINSON is a farmer of Baltimore Township. Only two men are residents of this township who have reached the age of forty-five, that were born within rifle-shot of their present residence, and one of these is the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. lle takes not only front rank as a pio- neer, but also has the distinction of being a son of Henry County, born on her virgin soil before Jowa was a State .. While yet a Territory, and only a few families had made a location, Amos Hutchin- son, with his wife, Julia A. (Shannon) Hutchinson, and their only daughter, Elizabeth, moved into Balti- more Township, and took a claim of 120 aeres. In the autumn of 1839 he built a log cabin about forty rods northwest of the place where his son William now lives. This cabin was of the rudest pattern, built with round logs, puncheon floor, and stick and clay chimney. Into this they moved, and their personal property was next to nothing. Amos was by trade a wagon-maker in Hamilton County, Ohio, but deciding to give up his trade and become a farmer, it was necessary that more land be seeured
than a man in his limited circumstances was able to buy in a country already developed. In fact that was the prime cause that brought to the West such a large emigration. and peopled this country with many men who made not only a home for their families, but became distinguished later as soldiers, politicians, professional men and the best of citizens. Not long after their arrival in this county, the death of their infant daughter occurred, but their sorrow was succeeded by the joy which came with the birth of Sylvester, their oldest son, now the husband of Iluldah Short, and a prominent farmer of Baltimore Township. Other children followed, the first one being our subjeet, born Oct. 11, 1842; then George, who married Lucinda Thorneburg; Mary, who died at the age of twenty-two, unmar- ried; and Margaret, wife of Clark Newby.
After getting his lands finely cleared and culti- vated, Amos IIutehinson moved with his family to Lowell, Jowa, in 1851, where he opened a wagon- shop, intending to make that his business, and in fact he had worked more or less at his trade from the time he came to the county, and many of the early settlers had wagons of his make. After a residence of two years in Lowell, Amos Hutchin- son died, and the family returned to the old home- stead. Mrs. Hutchinson remained a widow until 1867, then became the wife of N. P. Foster, a well- known resident of Baltimore Township, and her death occurred in 1886, having reached the age of sixty-eight.
Our subjeet was married, in 1865, to Rachel Fos- ter, a daughter of N. P. and Delilah (Moberly) Foster. Miss Rachel was born in Highland County, Ohio, and her parents came to Jowa in 1850. Mr. Hutchinson and his young wife began their domestic life on the old homestead, and remained the suc- ceeding four years in the same neighborhood. They theu returned to the Hutchinson homestead and are here to stay, Mr. Hutchinson having purchased the interest of the other heirs, and recently purchased eighty acres on section 29, making a farm of 200. and since then has made very fine and extensive improvements, consisting of commodious barns and other ont-buildings, and an elegant country residence. The farm, which in his boyhood was a favorite pasture for deer and other wild game,
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brings under his successful management a fine revenue.
The children gracing their union are: Fernando, husband of Rena Stoner, residents of Lee County, Iowa ; Charles C., Frank A. and Alda L. The latter is the only daughter, and upon her a wealth of love is lavished. The children have been carefully educated. and Fernando makes teaching his profes- sion. He received his classical education at Whit- tier College, and is now Principal of the Pleasant Ridge Township school of Lee County. The chil- dren have been inmates of a happy and pleasant home since their birth. Their father has been an enterprising and very successful man, and has ac- cumulated a handsome property. He is lavish in his expenditures for that which makes a home cheer- ful, and no expense or care has been spared in mak- ing his children proficient in education, and in the management of the farm. The old log cabin stands in the yard, the same in which their grandsire lived for years, and in which most of the success which came to the father transpired. In the old cabin all the children except Charley were born, and their glad shouts of childish glee added enthusiasm to the young couple who have lived so many years in domestic life, and now after a married life of nearly a quarter of a century, find themselves in the most comfortable circumstances, surrounded by their children, who do honor to them and to the name of Hutchinson, which for almost half a century has been familiar to every resident of the county.
RANCIS R. FLEAGLE, merchant, New London, Iowa, was born in Carroll County, Md., Aug. 15, 1846, and is the son of Henry and Rebecca (Rudolph) Fleagle. The grandparents of our subject on both sides were natives of Ger- many. Francis R. emigrated with his parents to lowa in October, 1856, and settled on a farm in Jefferson Township, Henry County. The family consisted of his father and mother, three brothers and a sister: Miranda, who was the ellest, and is now the wife of Simon P. Haifley, of Jefferson Township, in this county; Jacob, the eldest son, enlisted in the late war as a private of Company
B, 2d Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and died at Helena, Ark., the same year; William, the next younger, married Susan Smith, daughter of Jacob Smith, a pioneer of Henry County, and is a farmer of Jefferson Township, same county; Charles married Belle Boss, and is also a farmer of Jefferson Town- ship. The father had but $1,100 capital, and after spending the first year on a farm in Jefferson Town- ship, he purchased a farm in Jefferson County, Iowa, of 210 aeres, for $2.200, on which he paid $1,000 down, going in debt for the balance. The result was that all had to work hard and live sparingly, to save money and pay the debt. Money was hard to get, and was made by splitting rails and working out. The farm had to be cleared and fenced, so the boyhood of our subject was not a path of roses; but he learned habits of industry and frugality that were worth more than money. IIe worked faithfully for his father until twenty- one years of age. He was educated at Ilowe's Academy, at Mt. Pleasant, and engaged in teaching school. being employed in that way for three years. Ile then engaged as clerk with Templin Brothers & Woods, merchants of Mt. Pleasant. Later he en- gaged with T. P. Twinting, grocer, as book-keeper, and spent three years in clerking and book-keeping in Mt. Pleasant. He was married in that city. Sept. 5, 1875, to Miss Laura Smith. daughter of R. N. Smith, of Lowell, Iowa, of which town Mrs. Flea- gle is a native. Four children were born of this union, three sons and a daughter: Harry was born Aug. 7, 1876; Robert Henry, Nov. 19, 1879; Jesse, Sept. 27, 1883; Nellie, Sept. 19, 1886. Mr. Fleagle removed to Cotton Grove, Canaan Town- ship, llenry County, in 1876, where his wife has a farm of eighty acres, and there engaged in merchan- dising. Ile was appointed Postmaster of Cotton Grove, and continued to reside at that place till 1881, when he came to New London and engaged in his present business. lle lias a well-stocked store of general merchandise, and has built up a good trade. Mr. Fleagle is a Republican in poli- tics, and has held various local official positions. He was twice chosen Township Clerk of Canaan Township, and has been Director of the New Lon- don School Board several years. Ile was made a Master Mason in Mt. Pleasant Lodge No. 8, A. F.
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& A. M., April 14, 1873. He was also a member of Henry Lodge No. 10, I. O. O. F., and of Indus- trial Eneampment No. 18, all of Mt. Pleasant. Mr. Fleagle is one who has had to be the architect of his own fortune. lle has by perseverance and striet integrity won a good name and a fair start in the world. That which he has accumulated has been the result of patient and persevering effort, and he is now classed as one of the leading business men of the town.
Mr. Fleagle's mother died in Jefferson County in the winter of 1870-71. llis father, who was born in October, 1802, died in October, 1877. He re- turned to Ilenry County soon after his wife's death, in 1870, and made his home with his son William, in Jefferson Township, until the time of his death.
ILLIAM R. HILL, merchant, Mt. Pleasant, and a pioneer of Iowa of 1838, was born in New York City, May 9, 1834. His par- ents, Enoch S. and Delia A. (Stillwell) Ilill, were also pioneers of Iowa. (See sketch.) Our subject accompanied his parents to Iowa in 1838, arriving in Burlington in the fall of that year. Two years later the family removed to Skunk River, four iniles below Mt. Pleasant, and in 1842 removed to that city. Mr. Hill was bred to strict business habits, and was connected with his father in an extensive mercantile trade, as well as in other lines of business. He has been in business for himself almost continuously during the past twenty-five years.
Mr. Hill was married in Jerseyville, Ill., May 17, 1870, to Miss Catherine E. Snedeker. a daughter of S:unuel and Harriet (Sunderland) Snedeker. Mrs. Hill was born in Trenton, N. J., and while in her infancy accompanied her parents to Jersey County, Ill. Hler father and mother were both natives of New Jersey, and her mother's father was a promi- nent man in Trenton, where the family were among the earliest settlers and large property holders. the street on which they resided being still known as "Sunderland's Lane." Mr. Sunderland was de- scended from an old English family of that name.
Her father was of Holland descent, though several generations were born in America. Mrs. Hill was educated at the Monticello Seminary at Godfrey, Ill., of which she is a graduate. She completed both the literary and theological courses, and is as able to write a sermon as an essay. The strict habits of systematic industry acquired in that institution have fitted her for the suceessful discharge of tasks that would seem too great to be undertaken by any person of ordinary ability. She is a lady of super- ior accomplishments and culture, and possesses ar- tistie talents of a high order. Her home and those of many of her relatives and friends are adorned by beautiful pictures and elegant faney work, the result of her labors. She has a taste for the æsthetic and beautiful, and her home is attractive and interesting. Mr. and Mrs. Hill are the parents of three children, one son and two daughters. The son, John Snede- ker, was born in Jerseyville, Ill., April 5, 1871. The eldest daughter, Irma Araminta, was born Dec. 11, 1875, and the younger, Harriet Adelia, was born March 19, 1878. Mr. and Mrs. Hill spent the first year of their married life in travel, and in 1872 located in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, where they have since resided. Mr. Hill has made many substantial improvements at Mt. Pleasant. He has built and still owns several good buildings in that city. He is the proprietor of a large double store, where he carries a general stock of dry-goods and groceries.
LBERT WASHINGTON KINKEAD, County Attorney for Henry County, Iowa, and a resident of Mt. Pleasant, was born at llomer, Licking Co., Ohio, Feb. 22, 1853, and is the son of Robert and Jerusha (Smith) Kin- kead. His father, who was of Scotch-Irish de- scent, was also a native of Ohio, and was born in Muskingum County Feb. 25, 1817, now a resident of Sharon. Iowa. His mother was a native of Ire- land and emigrated to America with her parents in childhood. Her death occurred during the youth of our subject. Albert W. received his primary education in the public schools, and in the spring of 1870 came to Mt. Pleasant and became a student
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of Prof. Howe's Academy. After completing his studies in that institution, he entered upon the study of law in the office of Messrs. Henry and Richard Ambler, of Mt. Pleasant, beginning in the spring of 1875. He was admitted to practice in August, 1877, in the local courts, and to the Su- preme Court in 1881.
In the fall of 1879 he formed a law partnership with Mr. C. B. Whitford, at Mt. Pleasant, under the firm name of "Kinkead & Whitford," which connec- tion continued four years. Since the expiration of that time Mr. Kinkead has been alone in practice. Mr. Kinkead is a Republican in politics, and was elected City Solicitor in 1879, which oflice he held two years. In the fall of 1886 he was elected County Attorney for Henry County, being the first to hold that office in the history of the county, the district system having previously been in force.
Mr. Kinkead is a lawyer of superior ability and fine legal attainments, and during the eleven years that he has been connected with the Henry County bar he has won the confidence of the community and the respect of his brethren of the legal profes- sion.
E NOCH S. HILL, deceased, was an early pio- neer of Henry County, Iowa, and one of the most active, influential and respected citizens of this region. IIe was born near Trenton, N. J., April 8, 1802, and was the fifth in a family of nine children. His parents were Richard and Elizabeth Hill. The father was born in New Jersey, Sept. 27, 1759, and died Nov. 3, 1826. The mother was born Oct. 10, 1777.
Enoch S. Hill was trained from his boyhood to mercantile pursuits in his father's store. About 1825, he engaged in merchandising for himself in New York City, where he was married, Jan. 30, 1827, to Miss Delia A. Stillwell, daughter of Dr. William Stillwell, a prominent physician of that city. Mrs. Hill's family history is peculiar and in- teresting. Her parents were of English origin and of noble blood. It is well authenticated that on her father's side the family were of the royal House of Stuart; that notwithstanding their consanguin- ity, they were of Cromwell's party, and one of them
was even one of the regicides. On the accession of Charles the Second to the throne, three brothers of this family escaped to Holland; they had agreed with friends at home that a message of two words, "Still well," should be a token of their safety. The better to conceal their identity, they adopted the name of Stillwell. The brothers were Nicholas, Jasper and John, named in the order of their ages. The eldest brother married a Holland wife, and with his wife and two brothers joined a party of Holland emigrants and came to the New World in 1638. They landed in New England, where the second brother, Jasper, married, and founded the town of Gifford, Conn., in which place he died, leaving two daughters, who married two men named Graves, and were the founders of Hartford, Conn. The elder and younger brothers did not tarry in New England, but accompanied their friends to the Dutch settlement of Manhattan. Nicholas Stillwell, the eldest, settled on Long Isl- and, where he reared a large family, and formed a colony of his own. John, the youngest, married a Holland lady and settled in Manhattan. Helonged to visit his old home in England, and much against the advice and wishes of his brother, took his wife and only child, a daughter, baek to England. He was soon recognized, arrested, and executed by being beheaded. His wife died of the shock, and the daughter, by the kindness of friends, returned to New York. She married a cousin, the son of Nich- olas Stillwell, and from this union Mrs. Hill's father was descended. Her mother was a daughter of Maj. Saybrook, a son of Lord Saybrook, of En- gland. Mr. and Mrs. Hill were blessed with three children, two sons and a daughter: William R., now a merchant of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa (see sketch) ; Jas- per S. died at Trenton, N. J., Sept. 19, 1858; and Cordelia, who is the widow of Erastus Chamberlain, of Burlington, lowa. Mr. Hill continued business in New York, where he was one of the leading merchants, until 1838, when he emigrated to Iowa. They landed in the night on the bank of the Mis- sissippi River at Burlington, then only a hamlet of log houses. The first night was spent in the open air, lying on buffalo robes. Mr. ITill spent two years in the mercantile business at Burlington, then, having purchased a tract of several hundred acres
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on the river about four miles below Mt. Pleasant. he removed there and built a sawmill and flouring- mill, and made other substantial improvements. In 1842 he came to Mt. Pleasant, where he engaged extensively in mercantile business, having branch stores in neighboring towns. He also bought and improved real estate on a large scale. Ile was a man of broad views, financially and otherwise; was bold in business ventures, but sagacious. A man of large stature, and great physical and mental force, he pushed his enterprises with vigor. lle was liberal in all matters of public welfare, con- tributed largely to the support of churches and schools, and all worthy matters of public interest. He was a Democrat of the old school, and believed in maintaining the laws made in accordance with the Constitution, whether he liked them or not. Ile was a good citizen, a kind husband and father. llis death occurred at Mt. Pleasant, June 12, 1880. llis wife survived him six years, dying Jan. 2, 1886. She was a remarkable woman. She possessed rare artistic genius, and was highly accomplished in many ways. Iler skill in fancy work is attested by the many beautiful articles of her handiwork now in possession of her daughter and danghter-in-law ; while the many fine paintings, most of them works of her later years, prove her to have been an artist of superior talent. Her first portrait in oil was that of her husband, which is conceded by all his ac- quaintances to be a remarkable likeness. One small picture, a snow scene, was painted when she was eighty-two years of age. The perspective is good, and the execution fine. Mrs. Ilill was not only a brilliant woman, but one of the best of wives and mothers.
W ILLIAM BASHFORD, a well-known and highly respected citizen of Scott Township, residing on section 19, came to Henry County in the spring of 1855. lle was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, May 20, 1821, and is a son of John and Margaret (Dunlap) Bashford, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, of Scotch- Irish ancestry. John Bashford was a pioneer of Marion County, Ohio, having settled there in June, 1822. Marion County was still his residence at
the time of his death, which occurred July 7, 1847, when sixty-six years of age. His wife de- parted this life abont the year 1858. They reared a family of nine children, of whom only three are now living, namely: Eli D., who now resides in Louisa County, Iowa, but for many years was a miner in the Rocky Mountains; John M., a resi- dent farmer of Louisa County, Iowa, and Will- iam, our subject. Those deceased are Robert C., James, .Joseph, Elizabeth, Sarah, and one who died in infancy.
At the common schools, such as the new coun- tries afforded, the education of our subject was received. lie remained upon the farm until twenty- five years of age, when he went to Seneca County, Ohio, where he spent one winter as a laborer on the railroad. He then proceeded to Columbus, Ohio, and from thence returned home, where he was engaged as a farm-hand until April 10, 1851, with the exception of two summers, during which he worked at the carpenter's trade.
Mr. Bashford was united in marriage with Nellie Jane Tuttle, a native of Pennsylvania, born Sept. 7, 1830.1 and a daughter of Milton and Lana (Cooper) Tuttle, both natives of the same State. After his marriage Mr. Bashford rented a farm for four years, at the end of which time he emigrated to lowa, stopping first in Cedar County, where he spent one winter, and in the following spring came to Henry County. Purchasing ninety acres of land on section 19, Scott Township. he and his wife soon made for themselves a home. A handsome and commodious residence has been erected upon their nicely improved farm. Industry and perse- verence are elements necessary to success in life, and Mr. Bashford has both. Ilis fine farm and his elegant residence were seenred through his own efforts. lle earned his first money by chopping wood at twenty-five cents per day, but now he has a comfortable competency laid up for old age.
The patriotism that caused so many to lay down their lives on the altar of their country was not wanting in Mr. Bashford. He enlisted in the 8th Iowa Volunteer Infantry, Dec. 1, 1861. and was mustered out May 8, 1866, at Davenport, lowa. He was in the famous battle fought at Mobile, Ala. In politics he is a Jacksonian Democrat.
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Mr. and Mrs. Bashford have been the parents of eight children: Lavilda, born Feb. 22, 1852, died at the age of thirteen years; Melissa, now the wife of .John Renshaw, born Oct. 25, 1853, residing in Jewell County, Kan. ; Ella, wife of Owen Crispin, of Jewell County, Kan., born April 2, 1857; John Milton, born March 2, 1859, whose home is in Logan County, Kan .; William, Jr., born Oet. 31, 1861, married Jennie E. Chamberlain, still residing with his parents; Lana, wife of William Marple, born Aug. 12, 1865, also of Jewell County, Kan .; Levina, born Oct. 3, 1868, residing at home, and Eli Dunlap, born March 18, 1871, who died at the age of one year. Mr. and Mrs. Bashford are mem- bers of the Presbyterian Church.
OHN H. HOCHREITER is a farmer of Scott Township, residing on section 9. We present with pleasure the biography of the youngest son of the first settler of Seott Township. He was born Oct. 26, 1854, and is a son of Bartholomew and Eliza C. (Keen) Hochrei- ter, daughter of Gen. W. C. Keen, who served in the War of 1812, under Commodore Perry. She was twice a widow before she became the wife of Mr. Hochreiter, to whom she was married in Bur- lington. He was first married in Philadelphia, Pa., and removed to Lancaster, Ohio, remaining there ten years, from whence he emigrated to Monmouth, Ill., where he was a pioneer settler. In the spring of 1836 he again took up the line of march for the West, and found a permanent location upon the farm now owned by our subject. Bartholomew had previously visited this State, and the natural beauty of the country so pleased him that he laid a claim upon 240 acres, and built a log house upon the site of the elegant farm residence recently erected by his son. Arrangements being thus completed, Mr. Hochreiter returned to Monmouth for his family, which consisted of his wife and four children. Slowly they wended their way through the country where but few roads were laid out, and none of the creeks bridged, but full of the enterprise and enthusiasm which prevailed among the pioneers of this new country. The work of development of a
farm was not to be compared to that in the country of his birth, where great trees, stumps and stones were to be removed. Coming in the springtime, opportunity was given for breaking ground, and that year a crop was planted and harvested. This was the first in the township and was perhaps raised upon the lands now the property of his son Edward.
After residing in the new country for about ten years, the death of his wife occurred, and the lady before mentioned later became his wife, and three children were born to them: Edward, husband of Julia, daughter of Samuel Felgar; Caroline, who died in infancy; and our subject. After living many years an honored and respected citizen of Henry County, all that was mortal of Bartholomew Ilochreiter was laid to rest on the farm which he had first claimed, then entered and improved. He gave the lands for a cemetery upon his farm and several bodies were there interred, but the property is again vested in his son. Bartholomew Hochrei- ter was aged eighty-two, and his wife survived him three years and died at the age of sixty. He was born in Bavaria, and while yet a young man came to America. He was an early official of Scott Township, and was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Winfield. Mr. Hochreiter was liberal in purse and sentiment, and gave freely for the support and erection of churches in the neigh- borhood. With his demise came universal regret at the loss of a valued citizen, a loving husband and a kind father.
Our subject was educated in Scott Township, and grew to manhood upon the same farm that he now owns. He wedded Miss Edith C. Latta, their nuptials being celebrated Dec. 24, 1879, at the home of ber grandfather, Moses Latta, of Scott Township. She was born in Ross County, Ohio, and is a daughter of William M. and Mary (Teeter) Latta, both natives of Ohio, where Mr. Latta was a farmer. He was one of the brave men whose life was given for his country, a member of the 89th Ohio Infantry. At the bloody battle of Chicka- mauga he was captured, taken to Andersonville Prison, and after a torturing confinement of more than a year death came to his relief, leaving his poor, emaciated body a sacrifice to the country he loved, and a monument which spoke volumes against
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